I hope we’re all having a fantastic AAPI Heritage Month! Seeing the trailer for the new Lilo & Stitch got me thinking about what a masterpiece the original movie is. Nani has got to be one of my favorite Disney characters of all time.
And on that note, hasn’t it been cool to witness more and more API representation in animation since Lilo & Stitch came out in 2002? To celebrate some of the amazing characters on screen, I thought I’d rank my favorite Asian and Pacific Islander Disney characters so we can all remember some of the greats. It’s pretty satisfying that we have enough API rep that we can make a list of 19 characters. We definitely still have a long way to go, however.
Just a disclaimer — we’re sticking to mostly main characters and important side characters. Otherwise, the grandma from Mulan would sweep, and I want to make this fair. Let’s jump in!
16. Lilo — Lilo & Stitch
14. Candy Chiu — Gravity Falls
13, Mowgli — The Jungle Book
12. Hiro Hamada — Big Hero 6
9. Edna Mode — The Incredibles
7. Tadashi Hamada — Big Hero 6
6. Jake Long — American Dragon
3. Naveen — The Princess and the Frog
2. Nani — Lilo & Stitch
Did you agree with my list? I’d love to know in the comments below.
Check out more AAPI-centered content by exploring how BuzzFeed celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month! Of course, the content doesn’t end after May. Follow BuzzFeed’s A*Pop on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to keep up with our latest AAPI content year-round.